28-Feb-2019 : His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Holds a Working Visits to Mukim Serasa and the Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Plant at Pulau Muara Besar

​His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office held a working visit to Mukim Serasa and the Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Plant at Pulau Muara Besar on 28th February 2019.

Upon arrival at Setia Ali Mosque, a Doa Selamat was recited by Yang Mulia Awang Nasehin bin Haji Yahya, the Head Imam of Setia Ali Mosque, Pekan Muara before beginning the working visit. His Royal Highness proceeded to inspect the road conditions in Jalan Serasa and was briefed on the rehabilitation programme of Jalan Serasa and Jalan Perusahaan Serasa by Yang Mulia Haji Mazlan bin Haji Abd Salim, Acting Director of Roads. His Royal Highness then proceeded to listen to a short briefing on transport activities and statistics of heavy vehicle offenses under the Act 161 Road Traffic Regulation Chapter 68 of the Serasa Muara area as a result of enforcement by Land Transport Department in 2017 and 2018. The briefing was by Yang Mulia Haji Rozaly bin Haji Saidon, Acting Director of Land Transport Department.

His Royal Highness was then invited to the Serasa Casting Yard for the Temburong Bridge project, travelling through and observing the current conditions of Jalan Serasa. Upon arrival at the casting yard, His Royal Highness was greeted by Yang Mulia Awang Haji Marzuke bin Haji Mohsin, Deputy Minister of Development. His Royal Highness was later briefed by Yang Mulia Muhammad Faizan bin Haji Bakir, Junior Site Engineer on the facilities and activities undertaken at the site such as the casting of segmental and 50m box girders for the construction of bridge decks. Main activities such as production of box girders for the Temburong Bridge project are completed. His Royal Highness viewed the 578th and last piece of 50-metre box girder. The launching of the final two 50-metre box girders would be held in the afternoon, which marks another significant milestone of the mega project. His Royal Highness was then invited to sign a commemorative plaque, which was followed by a group photo session.

From the Serasa Casting Yard, His Royal Highness then proceeded to the Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Complex at Pulau Muara Besar. The enhancement of infrastructure cooperation and enhancing cooperation on Petroleum and Petrochemical Refinery at Pulau Muara Besar is one of the matters discussed between His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and His Excellency Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China during His Excellency's State Visit to Brunei Darussalam in November last year

His Royal Highness proceeded to sign a commemorative plaque, which was preceded by welcoming remarks by Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Md. Hussein, Minister of Energy, Manpower and Industry, regarding the development of PMB and the refinery's expected contribution to economic development and employment.

His Royal Highness was also briefed on the overall development of PMB and project updates of the Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Complex by Yang Mulia Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Matsatejo bin Sokiaw, Deputy Minister of Energy, Manpower and Industry.

His Royal Highness was later briefed by Yang Mulia Yang Mulia Awang Haji Azhar bin Haji Yahya, Permanent Secretary (Energy), Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry, regarding the technical progress of the complex in his capacity as the Chairman of the Technical Working Committee under the Pulau Muara Besar Development Steering Committee.

This was followed by a briefing on the roles and responsibilities of the Department of Environment and Recreational Park on the management and monitoring of environment at Pulau Muara Besar by Dr Dayang Nor Imtihan binti Haji Abdul Razak, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Development.

His Royal Highness was then briefed by Yang Mulia Awang Haji Zolkiflee bin Haji Abdul Karim, Permanent Secretary (Manpower), Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Welfare Working Committee under the Pulau Muara Besar Development Steering Committee, regarding the present measures undertaken to ensure the well-being of workers and religious activities undertaken at Pulau Muara Besar. This was also followed a briefing by Yang Mulia Awg Adib bin Idris, one of the local operators of Syarikat Hengyi Industries Sdn. Bhd. and he has highlighted the company's commitment to employ more local people.

His Royal Highness was then invited for morning refreshments which were later followed by a photo session with members of the multi-stakeholder Pulau Muara Besar Development Steering Committee; Legislative Council Member and Ketua Kampung of Kampung Masjid Lama Pekan Muara, Sabun and Pelumpong; the Working Committees under the Steering Committee, and the management of Hengyi Industries Sdn. Bhd.

His Royal Highness then proceeded to tour the Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Complex, beginning with the Refinery and Petrochemical Processing Units, the Eastern and Western Jetties and the Surau for the graduates of the Centre for Capacity Building (Pusat Pembangunan Kapasiti) working at Pulau Muara Besar.

His Royal Highness later chaired a meeting with the members of the Pulau Muara Besar Steering Committee and the management of the Hengyi Industries Sdn. Bhd. joint venture company.

His Royal Highness discussed the current and future development of the oil refinery and petrochemical plant. Amongst the various matters emphasized by His Royal Highness were that the developments should continue to meet international standards, job sustainability and opportunities for the current and future locals working at Pulau Muara Besar, as well as the socio-economic contribution derived from this projects.

Before concluding the Working Visit, His Royal Highness was then invited to a lunch reception and proceeded for Zuhur Jemaah Prayer with the local workers. His Royal Highness later received a Junjung Ziarah from 400 local workers on Pulau Muara Besar.

The Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Complex at Pulau Muara Besar is a foreign direct investment (FDI) joint-venture project undertaken by the Hengyi Industries Sdn. Bhd., whose shareholders are Damai Holdings Ltd. under the Strategic Development Capital Fund, Ministry of Finance and Economy and Zhejiang Hengyi Group Co. Ltd. from the People's Republic of China. The Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Complex Phase 1 Development was approved by the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in June 2011. When the plant becomes operational, it will produce petroleum products, for domestic use and for export, including those used for the textile industry in the People's Republic of China.

The progress of the plant and other matters relating to the development of the Pulau Muara Besar Industrial Park are regularly monitored by the Pulau Muara Besar Development Steering Committee co-chaired by Yang Berhormat the Minister of Energy, Manpower and Industry and Yang Berhormat the Minister of Development. Other members of the Steering Committee are Yang Berhormat the Minister of Defence II; Yang Berhormat the Minister at the Prime Minister's Office; Yang Berhormat the Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II; Yang Berhormat the Minister of Transport and Info-Communications; and Yang Mulia the Deputy Minister of Energy, Manpower and Industry.

In realizing the aspirations of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to increase job opportunities for the local through government initiatives, currently, 276 local workers are directly employed under Hengyi Industries Sdn. Bhd. Throughout the operation phase, the plant is expected to open up more direct employment opportunities, with at least 50%being dedicated to locals at the start, increasing to 90% over subsequent years.

There are also further economic spin-offs expected to be generated for local businesses through the provision of goods and services to sustain and support the operational phase, which can provide another 2,400 indirect employment opportunities. During the construction phase alone, a total of 82 local companies were awarded contracts by Hengyi Industries Sdn. Bhd., which included the supply of articles for construction, construction survey services, bicycle supplies, bus procurement, car rental, ambulance services, chemical product supplies, cleaning services, boat services and several others.

This working visit clearly reflects the support of His Royal Highness towards realizing the economic development and well-being of the people in this country as aspired by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in achieving the Brunei Vision 2035.